THE CHURCH IN FRANCE

New Zealand Tablet, 18 April 1912, Page 9

THE CHURCH IN FRANCE

.■;."- His Eminence Cardinal Logue,' referring in his Lenten pastoral to the anti-religious work which in recent years has swept over Europe, says:—'France, which once gloried in the proud "title of eldest "daughter of the Church, has been the principal' scene of comfort; there the battle still rages. The heroic efforts made by French Catholics to repair the ruin in which an infidel Government has sought to involve religion, and to shield their children against the fell influence of Godless teaching, v are met by threats of fresh legislation still more drastic, unjust', and oppressive. French Catholics are making every possible sacrifice to supply the place of those religious schools which have been ruthlessly swept away at the expense of vast material loss to , the State, in defiance _ of the best interests of education, and to the complete ruin of the moral training of youth. But those into whose hands the destinies of the State have unhappily fallen have declared that the free schools must go;-that parental right must be trampled upon; that education must become the monopoly of the State, enabling it to place the youth.of France at the mercy of teachers who openly scoff at religion, turn into ridicule the fundamental principles of Christian morality, and teach the most blatant atheism. Such are some of the dangers and. difficulties with which French Catholics are confronted, but they have hitherto been nobly; met. Divine, Providence can draw good from evil.' Persecution has awakened, into fresh vigor and activity the slumbering. Catholic spirit of France. Piety has become more real and widespread, indifference ; has given place to fervor, the churches have become more crowded, the

Sacraments*more;frequented. Bishops and priests; have generously, sacrificed, for conscience sake, the miserable pittance reserved to them from the spoils \ of Church property may feel the pinch of want for: a time but they are consoled in their temporary sufferings, and will, no doubt, be eventually relieved from ■ their difficulties by the sympathy and affection of their people. That Splendid Charity, / which has ever been a crowning glory Of French Catholicism has grown and expanded under the pressure 'of persecution, furnishing means to repair, by degrees,: the ruin which hatred of religion has wrought Lately, in Rome, I asked the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris how he found means to re-establish his seminary,multiply churches in every quarter of the city, and carry out the other great works in. which he is engaged. He told > ; me that the charity of his people furnished him with funds in abundance. As an instance, he mentioned the case of one family who, shortly before, had placed at his disposal sixty thousand francs (£2400) in aid of his works. With such a spirit animating, her children there is no reason to despair of the French Church.* Her conflict with the powers of evil may be long and: arduous; many may ' unhappily perish-, during the struggle;: the foul demon of irreligious teaching may < claim hecatombs of innocent children; but she will conquer in the end. Despite the malice of infidel statesmen, the spoliation of unjust, laws, the peculation of dishonest officials, the gangrene of political corruption, the Church of St. Louis, of Joan of Arc, of St. Vincent de Paul, of St. Francis de Sales -shall emerge from the ordeal •• vigorous, bright, glorious, and triumphant. %